Unscrewing security device for containers

ABSTRACT

An unscrewing security device for a sealing lid which may be or is mounted on a fixed neck of a motor vehicle radiator, comprising a lid outer section with a handle element, locking elements which may be locked to a counter locking element on the neck and a lid inner piece comprising a valve arrangement preferably embodied as an over and under pressure combination, whereby a turning lock acts between the lid outer piece and the neck. According to the invention, such an unscrewing security device may be provided with the turning lock by application of operational data in an optimal manner, whereby the rotation lock is operated by an actuator controlled according to the operating conditions in the container or for an engine, which is mounted in a housing, itself mounted inside or outside the container in the vicinity of the lid outer piece.

The present invention relates to a device for preventing unscrewing of aclosure cap, which can be mounted on a stationary stub of a container,in particular a motor vehicle radiator, as generically defined by thepreamble to claim 1.

In one such unscrewing prevention device, known from European PatentDisclosure EP 0 760 789 B1, a control bolt of the twist preventer isacted upon, counter to the action of a compression spring, by aso-called memory spring, which expands at a suitably high temperature.The control bolt is disposed in an axial blind bore of a thickenedportion of the stub that is provided with the counterpart closureelement. In this disposition of the twist preventer, it is difficult tobring the heat, which exists concretely in the container, to theheat-variable memory spring without major temperature losses.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create an unscrewingprevention device of the type defined at the outset whose twistpreventer is disposed in an optimal way for the delivery of operatingdata.

For attaining this object, in an unscrewing prevention device of thistype, the characteristics recited in claim 1 are provided.

By the provisions according to the invention, depending on the type ofdrive mechanism intended for the twist preventer, an optimal position ofthe drive mechanism with a view to delivering the operating data to beemployed is attainable.

In one embodiment, the characteristics of claim 2 are provided, whichmeans that the housing that receives the drive mechanism is disposed inan optimal way at the place where the pressure or temperature aredirectly present. Moreover, the housing is accommodated in aspace-saving way. In this respect, the characteristics of claim 3 and/orclaim 4 may advantageously be provided.

In another exemplary embodiment having the characteristics of claim 5,the housing is mounted on the outside of the container whenever theoperating data have been taken from the operating status of the engine.This moreover has the advantage that the container itself needs tochange only insignificantly. In this respect it may be expedient toprovide the characteristics of claim 6.

Advantageous structural features in terms of the twist preventer areobtained from the characteristics of one or more of claims 7 through 10.

Various ways of triggering the drive mechanism are advantageouslyapparent from the characteristics of claims 11, 12, 13, and 14.

Advantageous structural features in terms of the housing and thediaphragm will become apparent from the characteristics of one or moreof claims 15 through 18.

Further details of the invention can be learned from the ensuingdescription, in which the invention is described and explained infurther detail in terms of the exemplary embodiments shown in thedrawing.

Shown are:

FIG. 1, in a schematic longitudinal section, a closure cap mounted on amotor vehicle radiator, with a pressure-controlled twist preventer, in afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the half-sectionson the right and left of the twist preventer each representing one ofthe two terminal positions;

FIG. 2, a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but with atemperature-controlled twist preventer in a second exemplary embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3, a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but with an electromagneticallycontrolled twist preventer in a third exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4, a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but with a negative-pressurecontrolled twist preventer in a fourth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5, a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a pressure-controlled twistpreventer, but in a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The device 10, 110, 210, 310, 410 for preventing unscrewing of a cap orthe like shown in a plurality of exemplary embodiments in the drawing isused for operationally controlled prevention of unscrewing of a closurecap 11, 111, 211, 311, 411 from the closure element 12, 112, 212, 312,412 of a container 13, 113, 213, 313, 413, for instance a motor vehicleradiator, whenever, because of the operating state of the container(increased pressure or temperature), unscrewing the closure cap from thecontainer stub can be dangerous to the user.

The closure cap 11, 111, 211, 311, 411 has an outer part 14, 114, 214,314, 414 with a grip element 16, 116, 216, 316, 416, which is integrallyprovided with a closure element 17, 117, 217, 317, 417, which hereserves a female thread 18, 118, 218, 318, 418 for screwing the closurecap onto and unscrewing it from the opening of the stub 12, 112, 212,312, 412, which has a male thread 19, 119, 219, 319, 419, of the motorvehicle radiator 13, 113, 213, 313, 413 or other container. It isunderstood that the closure element 17, 117, 217, 317, 417, instead ofhaving a thread, may be provided with a bayonet mount element, which canbe connected to a corresponding bayonet mount element on the stub. Aninner part 21, 121, 221, 321, 421 of the cap is disposed in suspendedfashion, concentrically with the closure element 17, 117, 217, 317, 417,on the inside of the grip element 16, 116, 216, 316, 416. The inner part21, 121, 221, 321, 421 of the cap is rotatable relative to the gripelement 16, 116, 216, 316, 416 of the outer part 14, 114, 214, 314, 414of the cap but is axially held firmly. The inner part 21, 121, 221, 321,421 of the cap is embodied as a valve pot and receives anoverpressure/negative-pressure valve assembly 22, 122, 222, 322, 422,shown only schematically in dashed lines, whose overpressure valve istriggerable in one or two stages.

The unscrewing prevention device 10, 110, 210, 310, 410 has a twistpreventer 25, 125, 225, 325, 425, which has a drive mechanism 27, 127,227, 327, 427, disposed in a housing 26, 126, 226, 326, 426 providedinside or outside the container 13, 113, 213, 313, 413, and this drivemechanism actuates a locking bolt 28, 128, 228, 328, 428 in order tocause it to engage or disengage a detent opening 29, 129, 229, 329, 429in the grip element 16, 116, 216, 316, 416 of the closure cap 11, 111,211, 311, 411. In the various exemplary embodiments, the drive mechanism27, 127, 227, 327, 427 is triggerable in accordance with variousspecifications.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the drive mechanism 27 istriggerable by the internal pressure existing in the container 13. Tothat end, the housing 26 that receives the drive mechanism 27 isdisposed in a region inside the container 13 and below the male thread19 of the stub 12 and opposite an outer region of the grip element 16 ofthe closure cap 11. The housing 26 has a cylindrical part 31, whichprotrudes inward integrally from the inner wall of the container 13 andis closed by a cap part 32 that is provided with a plurality of evenlydistributed connecting openings 39. An insert 33 is disposed inside thecylindrical part 31 and is clamped in the cylindrical part 31 by the cappart 32 and serves as a guide element for the locking bolt 28. Thelocking bolt 28, disposed axially movably inside the housing 26,penetrates the container wall that forms the housing bottom, and in thisregion the locking bolt is for instance round in the manner of a pin.Inside the housing 26, the locking bolt 28 has a widened portion with anannular groove 34, in which a compression spring 36 surrounding thepinlike bolt region is received, which spring is braced at one end onthe bottom of the annular groove 34 and on the other on the insert 33.This compression spring 36 presses the locking bolt 28 against adiaphragm 40, which is acted upon by the pressure in the containerinterior and is fastened in pressuretight fashion on its outercircumference between the cap part 32 and the insert 33. As can be seenfrom the two half-sections in FIG. 1, the diaphragm 40, in its middleregion 37 against which the locking bolt 28 is pressed, can be deflectedcounter to the action of the compression spring 36 whenever the pressurein the interior of the container 13 exceeds a certain value. Oppositethe end of the locking bolt 28 protruding out of the container 13, thegrip element 16 is provided with an axial through opening 38, which thelocking bolt 28 can engage when the diaphragm 40 has been deflected andcan thus prevent relative rotation between the grip element 16 and thecontainer stub 12. The through opening 38 in the grip element 16 iscontinuous here, or in other words is accessible from the outside, sothat professionals will still be able to unlock and accordingly open theclosure cap 11 intentionally.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is similar to that shown inFIG. 1, with the distinction that the drive mechanism 127 in the housing126 is tg and driven as a function of the temperature that occurs in theinterior of the container 113. While the locking bolt 128, compressionspring 136, insert 133, and cylindrical part 131 are structurallyessentially identically embodied and disposed in terms of position, thedrive mechanism 127 has a thermocapsule 140, which contains an expandingmaterial that expands under the influence of heat if the temperatureincreases. The thermocapsule 140 is braced on the inside of the cap part132. Located on the thermocapsule 140 is a sealing diaphragm 141, whosemiddle region is disposed between the top side of the thermocapsule 140and the opposed underside of the widened region of the locking bolt 128.The circumferential region of the sealing diaphragm 141 is clamped orfastened between the cap part 132 and the insert 133. For directtransmission of the heat from the container interior to thethermocapsule 140, or its expanding material, the cap part 132, justlike the cap part 32 in the pressure-controlled tv 27 or 40, is providedwith connecting openings 139 distributed preferably evenly over thecircumference. The through opening 130, opposite the housing 126 or thelocking bolt 128, in the grip element 116 is also embodied approximatelyin the same way.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the drive mechanism 227 isformed an electromagnet 245, which is provided in a housing 226 thatonce again has a cylindrical part 231, suspended integrally inward intothe container on the inside of one region of the container wall. Thecylindrical part 231 is likewise covered by a cap part 232, and the cappart 232, with contact and fixation ribs 246, serves to receive theelectromagnet 245 and retain it. The electromagnet 245 has a coil 248,inside which a locking bolt 228, as an armature, is axially movable. Thelocking bolt 228 penetrates an opening in the container wall andprotrudes out of the container 213, opposite a corresponding detent bore238 in the grip element 216. Inside the housing 226, in the containerwall, a moisture-proof duct 249 is provided, through which a connectioncable 251 is carried to the electromagnet 245. The connection cable 251leads to a controller, not shown, which detects the operating state ofthe engine of the motor vehicle.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the drive mechanism 327 isformed by a negative-pressure diaphragm 345, which is inside a housing326 that is located outside the container 313. The external housing 326is disposed and retained on one region of the container wall. For thatpurpose, the container 313 has a circumferential flange 352, which isconcentric with the stub 312 that is provided with the male thread 319,and which has a spacing such that on its outer circumference it isapproximately aligned with the outermost circumference of the gripelement 316. The housing 326 is retained in the flange 352 or in theapplicable region 355 of the wall of the container 313, for instance bymeans of a tongue and groove connection 353 and 354, and remote from theflange 352, it is retained in clamping fashion on its back side by adetent bracket 356 and thus is retained in an optionally replaceableway. The housing 326 is embodied in two parts; the negative-pressurediaphragm 345 is clamped on the outer edge between the two housing parts357 and 358. The housing part 357 at the back, remote from the closurecap 311, acts as a guide for the locking bolt 328, which is connected tothe negative-pressure diaphragm 345 in a manner fixed against relativemotion. The housing part 358′ oriented toward the closure cap 311 isprovided with a through bore for the locking bolt 328, which boltsimultaneously protrudes into a bore 359 of the flange 352 and can reachinto a detent opening 338 of the grip element 316 of the closure cap 311(as shown in dashed lines). This detent opening 338 may be embodied asan oblong hole or in the form of a slit that is open from the face end.The negative-pressure diaphragm 345 is U-shaped, for instance,specifically in both of its terminal positions. A negative-pressure bore344 leads into the housing 326 and is connected to the engine in amanner not shown via a negative-pressure hose. Thus thenegative-pressure diaphragm 345 can be moved by suction out of oneterminal position, shown in solid lines, to its other terminal position(locking position) represented by dashed lines. The negative-pressurediaphragm 345 is prestressed by a compression spring 336, so that itreturns to its outset position when the negative pressure has built backup again to normal pressure.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is once again similar to whatis shown in FIG. 1; once again, the drive mechanism 427 in the housing426 is controlled by the pressure prevailing in the interior of thecontainer 413. However, instead of the diaphragm 40 of FIG. 1, a piston440 is disposed in the cylindrical part 431 of the housing 426, axiallymovably counter to the action of a compression spring 436. The piston440 is guided in pressuretight fashion along the inner wall of thecylindrical part 431 via a sealing ring 442. The piston 440 isintegrally provided with a concentric axial locking bolt 428 that issurrounded by the compression spring 436, which is braced at one end onthe piston 440 and at the other on an inner annular face of thecylindrical part 431; this annular face surrounds the through bore ofthe housing 426 through which the locking bolt 428 extends. The lockingbolt 428 is pressed, counter to the action of the compression spring436, into an axial through opening 438 in the grip element 416 wheneverthe pressure in the interior of the container 413 exceeds a certainvalue. When the piston 440 has been displaced upward, the locking bolt428 therefore prevents relative rotation between the grip element 416and the container stub 412. In this exemplary embodiment as well, thethrough opening 438 in the grip element 416 is continuous, or in otherwords accessible from the outside, so that professionals can stillintentionally unlock and accordingly open the closure cap 411.

The cylindrical part 431 of the housing 426 is covered on its inner endby a cap 432, which fits over the cylindrical part 431 on the outside indetent-locking fashion. The cap part 432 is provided toward the bottomwith a connecting opening 439, which here is concentric in the middleand which makes it possible to transmit the pressure conditions in theinterior of the container 413 to the axially movable piston 440.

During engine operation, the coolant in the container 13, 113, 213, 313,413 will heat up, so that the temperature and pressure will rise there.Because in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 the drivemechanism 14, 114 and 414, respectively, is disposed directly in thecontainer interior, then if there is a pressure increase in FIG. 1, inthe half-section on the right, or FIG. 5, in the half-section on theleft, the diaphragm 40 or the piston 440 will be deflected and movedaxially in the direction of the arrow B, counter to the action of thecompression spring 36 and 436 acting on the twist preventer 25 and 425,respectively, so that the locking bolt 28 and 428 will engage the detentopening 38 and 438, respectively. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2,in the half-section on the right, the expanding material will beexpanded because of the temperature increase, and thus the thermocapsule140 expands axially in the direction of the arrow B, once again counterto the compression spring 136 acting on the twist preventer, and becauseof this expanding motion the locking bolt 128 enters the detent opening138.

The same is correspondingly true for the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3,in which the temperature and pressure increase in the container 213 isderived indirectly from electrical engine data, for instance uponshutoff of the warm engine. Once again, the locking bolt 228 will engagethe detent opening 238.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, whenever negative pressure isgenerated upon shutoff of the engine, the locking action that preventsthe unscrewing of the closure cap 311 will occur once the locking bolt328 has moved into the direction of the arrow C.

It is understood that whenever the operating position (temperatureincrease or pressure increase), which is picked up directly orindirectly, changes to the normal or outset position, the locking actionis undone again, because the locking bolt 28, 128, 228, 328, 428 isreturned under the influence of the compression spring 36, 136, 236,326, 426.

It is understood that in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, thelocation of the drive mechanism housings 226 and 326 can also beprovided in some other way (on the outside instead of the inside, or onthe inside instead of the outside, respectively). The same iscorrespondingly true for the location of the locking bolt.

Moreover, in all the exemplary embodiments, it is possible to provide arockerlike force booster between the drive mechanism 26, 126, 226, 326,426 and the locking bolt 28, 128, 228, 328, 428 that is deflected awayfrom it.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A device for preventing unscrewing of a closure capmounted on a stationary stub of a container, such as a motor vehicleradiator, the closure cap having: an outer part with a grip element anda closure element connected to a counterpart closure element of thestationary stub; and an inner part with a valve assembly, the deviceincluding: a twist preventer operative between said outer part of saidclosure cap and said stationary stub; a housing located according to oneof: inside an outside of the container near the outer part of saidclosure cap; and a drive mechanism triggered by one of: the operatingdata in the container and an engine, wherein: said twist preventer beingactuatable by said drive mechanism.
 20. The unscrewing prevention deviceof claim 19, wherein: said housing that receives said drive mechanism isdisposed inside the container and below said counterpart closure elementof said stationary stub.
 21. The unscrewing prevention device of claim20, wherein: said housing that receives said drive mechanism isintegrated with the container wall.
 22. The unscrewing prevention deviceof claim 21, wherein: said housing is formed by a cylindrical part,protruding from the container wall, and a cap part that closes saidcylindrical part.
 23. The unscrewing prevention device of claim 19,wherein: said housing that receives said drive mechanism on the outsideof the container and is oriented toward a circumferential region of saidouter part of said closure cap remote from said counterpart closureelement of said stationary stub.
 24. The unscrewing prevention device ofclaim 23, wherein: said housing is placed on the outside of thecontainer and is retained on a flange that is concentric with saidstationary stub.
 25. The unscrewing prevention device of claim 19,wherein: said twist preventer has a locking bolt, which can be shiftedinto position by said drive mechanism into a detent opening of saidouter part of said closure cap.
 26. The unscrewing prevention device ofclaim 25, wherein: said drive mechanism acting on said locking bolt actsunilaterally, and said locking bolt is acted upon by a spring in theopposite direction.
 27. The unscrewing prevention device of claim 25,wherein: said drive mechanism acting on said locking bolt acts on bothsides.
 28. The unscrewing prevention device of claim 25, wherein: saidlocking bolt is oriented vertically or horizontally.
 29. The unscrewingprevention device of claim 19, wherein: said drive mechanism ispressure-controlled and is formed by a diaphragm or piston communicatingwith the container interior.
 30. The unscrewing prevention device ofclaim 19, wherein: said drive mechanism is thermically controlled and isformed by an expanding-material capsule communicating with the containerinterior.
 31. The unscrewing prevention device of claim 19, wherein:said drive mechanism is electromagnetically controlled as a function ofthe engine data, and said locking bolt is part of an electromagnet. 32.The unscrewing prevention device of claim 19, wherein: said drivemechanism is uk as a function of the engine data, and said locking boltis coupled for motion with a negative-pressure diaphragm.
 33. Theunscrewing prevention device of claim 19, wherein: said housing isprovided with axial openings pointing toward the container interior. 34.The unscrewing prevention device of claim 29, wherein: said diaphragm orthe piston is fastened or axially guided in pressuretight fashion insaid housing.
 35. The unscrewing prevention device of claim 34, wherein:said diaphragm is fastened in pressuretight fashion between acircumferential edge of said housing and a cap part of said closure cap.36. The unscrewing prevention device of claim 35, wherein: said cap partof said closure cap is provided with the axial openings.